Dying man told: 'That's for being a grass'

Published on Friday 5 December 2008 00:47

A MAN was murdered as revenge for giving evidence against a known criminal, a court heard yesterday.

Gordon Dickson was stabbed at least five times – once in the heart – during a vicious attack in January.

Mr Dickson had previously taken to the witness box against convicted gunman Martin McGillivray, who he claimed had assaulted him.

When McGillivray, 33, was later cleared, he planned to exact revenge for his victim's testimony and seized his chance when he saw the father-of-three at a shop in Wishaw, Lanarkshire.

He passed a knife to friend James Campbell, who chased and then stabbed the 28-year-old as two children – including Mr Dickson's fiance's 12-year-old daughter – watched.

Campbell, 31, then said to the dying man: "That's what you get for being a grass." Leaving the scene, he told both girls to "say nothing".

Campbell admitted during the trial being responsible for the death, but denied he had intended to kill Mr Dickson. He also insisted that his co-accused had not been involved in the murder.

A jury convicted Campbell of murder and McGillivray of the reduced charge of culpable homicide after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Judge Rita Rae, QC, yesterday jailed Campbell for life with a minimum sentence of 20 years and McGillivray for 14 years. She branded the murder "a senseless death".

The judge told the pair: "In view of the jury's verdicts, it is clear that both of you were responsible for your parts in causing the death of Gordon Dickson.

"This was a planned and pre-meditated incident. The motive was some history regarding the victim giving information to those in authority."

She added: "It is clear, McGillivray, that you summoned Campbell out of the shop. You then passed a weapon and identified the target and remained in the area until it was over."

She said she had seen "no real remorse".

"You Campbell shrugged your shoulders when asked by your counsel what you would say now to the victim's family," she said.

Both men joked and smiled to friends and relatives as they were led to the cells.

Outside court, the victim's mother, Janice Dickson, said that "justice had been served" with the verdicts.

Mr Dickson's brother James Dickson said: "Campbell didn't even know Gordon, so for him to take orders and murder him, he must be off his head."

The attack took place near a shop in Gowkthrapple, Wishaw, Lanarkshire on 23 January.